Crop tying machine

ABSTRACT

A method and machine for tying crops whereby strings are wrapped around stakes and plants or crops in order to support the plants, crops and the like, and wherein there is provided a means on the machine for sensing the stake, regardless of the positioning of the stake and the needles, and wherein needles that carry the strings rotate in opposite directions relative to each other, and wherein there is a means for maintaining constant tension on the strings.

[ 1 July 24, 1973 CROP TYING MACHINE [76] Inventors: John R. Paulk;Jacob W. Paulk, both of P. O. Box 567, Fitzgerald, Ga.

[22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1971 [211 App]. No.: 133,857

Maley 254/64 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 202,639 7/1967 U.S.S.R289/18 206,938 7/1967 U.S.S.R 289/18 Primary Examiner-Robert E. BagwillAttorneySherman Levy [52] U.S. Cl 47/1, 56/102, 254/64 [51] Int. Cl A01g17/08 [57] ABSTRACT Fleld of search...-..4. A method and maching forcrops whereby Strings 254/64 13 56/ 102 are wrapped around stakes andplants or crops in order to support the plants, crops and the like, andwherein [56] References C'ted there is provided a means on the machinefor sensing UNITED STATES PATENTS the stake, regardless of thepositioning of the stake and 759,401 5/1904 Simmonds 56/426 the needles,and wherein needles that carry the strings 767,457 8/ 1904 Webster56/426 rotate in opposite directions relative to each other, and1,553,706 1925 Meink 56/405 wherein there is a means for maintainingconstant ten- 2,753,661 7/1956 Wiemers.. 47 1 sion on the strings.3,015,187 l/l962 Grether.... 47/1 3,034,259 5/1962 Herr 47/1 4 Claims, 6Drawing Figures PAIENIEB JUL24I973 3 141, 267

SHEET 1 0F 3 INVENTOR J'omv 1Q nuur hcoa W. Paul/r BY e: #6

ATTORNEY PAIENTEU M2451" SHEET 2 [1F 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Pmmwm 3.747.267

SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR JZk/W Rquur @506 W. Pal/4K ATTORNEY stakes so thatcrops, plants and the like can be properly supported in a desiredmanner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a crop tyingrnachinewherein there is provided-ameans for sensing the stake regardless of thepositioningof the stake, and wherein strings can be tied orwrappedaround the stake and the plants or crops to support the cropsandplants in a desired manner abovethe ground.

Another object of the present invention is to providea crop tyingmachinewhich includes a means for maintaining a constant tension on thestring,.and wherein the present invention permits crops to bemechanically tied or supported by strings so that it is not necessary totie the strings by hand and thus the present invention greatly reducesthe amount of human effort that is ordinarily required in such jobs.

Still another object is to provide such a crop tying machine that isrelatively economical to manufacture, and efficient in operation andwhich is rugged in structure, and generally fool-proof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the crop'tying, machine of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, with parts broken away forclarity of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken on' the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the croptying machine of the present invention which may include a frame that isindicated generally by the numeral 38, and the frame 38 includes framepieces or beams or bars 21 and 22. The frame 38 further includeshorizontally disposed cross pieces 23 that extend between the upper endsof the beams 21 and 22, and is secured thereto or formed integraltherewith, and the numerals 24' and 25 indicate horizontally disposedbeamsor cross pieces or frame members that are suitably secured to themember 23. The frame 38 further includes horizontally disposed beams 26that have a conventional engine 27, such as a gasoline engine 27suitably supported thereon. The numeral 28 indicates a conventionalhydraulic pump that is driven by the engine 27 by means of an endlesschain or belt drive 29 or the like. Hoses 30 are suitably connected tothe hydraulic pump 28 for the passage therethrough of hydraulic fluid toa hydraulic motor 11 or the like, as later described in thisapplication.

As shown in the drawings, the machine may be provided with a seat 31 forconveniently supporting the operator of the device, and a manuallyoperable steering wheel 32 is arranged adjacent the seat 31. The numeral33 indicates a steering rod or shaft that is suitably connected to thesteering wheel 32, the front end of the steering rod 33 is operativelyconnected as at to the upper end-of a steering column 34, there being afront wheel 35'suitably mounted-ina yoke-41 on the lower end ofthe'column 34, FIG. 2.

A pair of rear wheels 18and 19 are provided for the machine, and thewheels 18 and 19 are arranged in spaced apart relation with respect toeach other, and the wheels 18 and 19 are suitably mounted onhorizontally disposedaxles 37. As shown in the drawings, the frame workfurther includes vertically disposed beams or posts 42 as well ashorizontally disposed frame pieces 43 and 17, and the horizontal framepiece 17 has an inclined'frame sectionor frame piece 45 connectedthereto or formed integral therewith.

The numerals and 51 indicate support brace assemblies, FIG. 3, and thesupport brace assembly 50 includes acylinder or hollow member 46 thathas a rod or arm 48 telescopically or adjustably-mountedtherein, and theends of the assembly 46 are connected as at 52 and 53 to adjacentportions of the frame work. The numeral 16 indicates a set screw orsecuring element that is providedfor maintaining the parts 48 and 46stationary in their adjusted position. The support brace assembly 51includes a tubular member or hollow member 57 that has a rod or arm 49telescopically or adjustably mounted therein and the ends of the braceassembly 47 are connected at at 54 and 55 to the adjacent portions ofthe frame work. A set screw 51' is provided for maintaining the members49 and 57 stationary in their adjusted position.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a drive shaft 57 that has abevel gear 58therein, and the bevel gear 58 meshes with a pair of bevelgears 59-and 60 that are mounted on a driven shaft 61, FIG. 3. The bevelgear 60 is fixedly secured to a vertically disposed shaft 61 thatextends through the hollow bevel gear 59.

As shown in FIG. 4 there is provided a pair of guide elements 62, forthe machine. The numeral 63 indicates stakes that are adapted to havetwine or string or cord 65 wrapped therearound in order to tie the cropsor plants to the stakes 63 as the machine 20 moves in aforwarddirection. The numerals l4 and 15 indicate needle arms which areactuated as later described in this application. The numeral 66indicates a solenoid that is arranged as shown in the drawings.

A pair of boxes or housings 69 are suitably supported on the frame 38whereby a quantity of string or cord or twine 65 can be arrangedtherein. The twine 65 may be guided through eyelets 70 along a pair ofvertically disposed arms 71 and 72 which have needle portions 14 and 15on their lower ends.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pivotally mounted stake feeler member 76 isadapted to be engaged by a vertically disposed stake 63, and the elementor member 76 is urged or biased in the proper direction by means of aspring member 77. One end of the spring member 77 may be anchored as at78, and the other end of the spring member 77 is connected to theelement 76 as at 79. In FIG. 4, numerals 80 and 81 indicate the path ofmovement of the strings or twine which will be looped or be wrappedaround the plant and the stake 63 to subsequently end up in a positionsuch as positions 83 and 84.

The bevel gear 59 turns the needle 14 on the left, and the bevel gear 60turns the needle 15 on the right.

As shown in FIG. 3, a clutch 84 is mounted on the shaft 57 and a brakeunit 85 is alsomounted on the shaft 57.

Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the numeral 86 indicates aninclined chain drive which engages a sprocket 87 on a shaft 88, and thechain 86 also engages a sprocket 89 on the shaft 57. A dog 90 isassociated with the clutch. A chain 13 drives one rear wheel 19 and theother rear wheel turns as the power is transmitted to the wheel 19 inorder to move the machine 20 in a forward direction or from left toright, as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The hydraulic pump 28 may be mounted in a reservoir of a conventionalconstruction. The numeral 92 indicates a hydraulic valve control forforward or reverse direction or travel. The numeral 87 indicates atorque limiting sprocket to protect the thread needles if they collidewith a stake such as the stake 63. The clutch 84 is a single revolutionclutch to cycle the needles 14 and 15. The numeral 85 indicates a brakeband with constant tension to stop the needles l4 and smoothly when theclutch 84 is disengaged. The solenoid 66 is provided for selectivelyactuating the clutch 84. The top gear shaft 61 goes through the hollowbotton gear 59, and this arrangement causes the needle carriers or arms71 and 72 to rotate in opposite directions relative to each other.Numeral 96 indicates a clutch cam stop or lever. The solenoid 66selectively pulls the lever 96 and actuates clutch 84, and as the clutchrotates one revolution, the lever 96 strikes a cam or dog 90 on theclutch 84 to stop the same.

The numeral 76 indicates a stake feeler, and as the machine approachesthe stake such as the stake 63, the feeler 76 is forced to the rear oris forced from the solid line position of FIG. 4 to the broken lineposition of FIG. 4, so as to operate the micro switch 97. The microswitch 97, when closed, actuates the solenoid 66. Suitable electricwires may be provided for the electrical circuit.

The numeral 98 indicates a mounting bracket assembly whose parts can beadjusted up and down for accommodating stakes of different heights andin addition, this assembly 98 is also adjustable back and forth toaccommodate the machine to different widths of rows.

A spring tensioner 12 is provided and this has an adjustable springarrangement to control the tension of the string.

The needles l4 and 15 are adjustable for the height of string on thestake and these needles make a complete revolution around each stake 63as the machine reaches each stake. The numeral 62 indicates the stakeguides. Containers 69 are provided for carrying extra balls of twine.The assembly 12 maintains tension on the string.

The numeral 99 indicates a vertically disposed mounting plate which hasbearings such as the bearings 102 and 103 suitably affixed theretowhereby the right angularly arranged shafts 61 and 57 can be rotatablysupported therein. The numeral 100 indicates a crank which is affixed tothe vertical shaft 61, and the crank 100 is secured to or formedintegral with the upper end of the arm 72. Likwise, there is provided acrank or bar 101 that is affixed to the lower bevel gear 59, and thecrank 101 is affixed to the upper end of the needle arm 71. Thisconstruction or provision of the arms 101 and 100 serves to assure thatthe arms 71 and 72 can rotate or revolve in the proper manner relativeto each other.

The supporting plate 99 is suitably affixed to the lower end ofavertical post or beam 104 that forms part of the support assembly 98,and the beam 104 is adjustably received in a hollow member 105, andsuitable securing elements 106 are provided for maintaining the member104 stationary in its various adjusted positions. The support assembly98 may further include portions or beams or bars such as the bars 107,108 and 109, FIG. 3.

The numeral 110 indicates a chain and sprocket drive between the shaft88 and the hydraulic motor 11.

The posts or frame pieces 42 have bars 112 depending therefrom, FIG. 3,and the bars 112 have the guide elements 62 suitably affixed thereto.Securing elements such as set screws, bolts or the like, 113 areconnected to the members 42 so that by loosening the elements 113, thebars 112 can be raised or lowered, and then after these parts have beenmoved to their desired position, the elements 1 13 can be tightened tomaintain the parts stationary in their adjusted position. Thisconstruction permits the parts such as the stake guide element 62 to bepositioned at different elevations as desired or required.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesand sizes, as desired or required. While a particular frame orsupporting structure has been illustrated for the present invention, itis to be understood that different types of supports or frames can beused, as desired or required, and the present invention is primarilydirected to the aspects or features of the crop tying mechanism.

In use, with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, an operator isadapted to sit on the seat 31, and with the engine 27 operating, it willbe seen that power will be transmitted to the hydraulic pump 28 througha drive of a suitable construction such as the drive 29. Hydraulic fluidis adapted to be pumped from the adjacent reservoir by pump 28 toactuate or operate the hydraulic motor 11, and the motor 11 drives theshaft 88 through a drive mechanism such as the chain drive 1 10. Thevalve control 92 can be used for controlling operation of the hydraulicparts. With the shaft 88 rotating, it will be seen that the chain 86will be driven due to the provision of the sprocket 87 on the shaft 88,and this movement of the chain 86 will cause corresponding rotation ofthe shaft 57, since the chain 86 also engages the sprocket 89 on theshaft 57. As the shaft 57 rotates, it rotates the bevel gear 58, and, aspreviously stated, the bevel gear 58 is arranged in meshing engagementwith the lower and upper bevel gears 59 and 60. The bevel gear 60 isfixedly mounted on the vertical shaft 61, and the bevel gear 59 isloosely mounted on the shaft 61. Thus, as the upper bevel gear 60rotates or turns, it will rotate the shaft 61, and since the crank 100is affixed to the shaft 61 and because the crank 100 is connected to theupper end of the needle arm 72, the arm 72 will be rotated in onedirection. Similarly, the crank 101 is affixed to the lower bevel gear59, so that as the bevel gear 59 turns, the crank 101 will be turned andbecause the crank 101 is affixed to the upper end of the arm 71, it willbe seen that the arm 71 will be rotated or turned and the pair of needlearms 71 and 72 rotate in opposite directions relative to each other.

The pair of arms 71 and 72 carry the needles 14 and 15 therewith, andthe twine or string is trained down along the needles so that the stringwill be wrapped around the stake 73 and crops or plants to be supported.

Furthermore, it will be noted that there is provided the pair of spacedapart guide members 62 which receive the stakes 63 therebetween as themachine moves forwardly, and when a stake 63 engages or reaches thefeeler element 76, the feeler element 76 will be pivoted to actuate themicro switch 97, and because the micro switch 97 is electricallyconnected to the solenoid 66, it will be seen that this will result inactuation of the solenoid 66 and thereby pivot or move the lever 96 thatcoacts with the cam stop or dog 90 on the shaft 57, whereby the desiredaction can take place.

The entire machine 20 is adapted to be driven by a suitable mechanism,as for example by means of a chain drive 13 which serves to operativelyconnect the shaft 88 to an axle 37 for a rear wheel 19.

The various parts are adjustable. For example, the guide element 62 canbe raised or lowered as desired due to the provision of the beams orbars 112 to which they are connected, and the beams 112 are adjustablyconnected to the posts 42 and are held in their adjusted position bymeans of the securing elements 113. A brace assembly 114 may be providedand arranged as shown in the drawings. Other braces can be used whereverneeded or desired. Likewise, the mounting assembly 98 has an adjustableconstruction, and, for example, by loosening the securing elements 106,the bar 104 can be raised or lowered to vertically adjust the parts tothe desired elevation, and similarly, a means is provided for permitinghorizontal adjustment of the parts.

It will, therefore, be seen that there has been provided a crop tyingmachine which will permit crops to be tied mechanically instead of byhand, so that the present invention is adapted to be used for crops thatare to be supported by strings. At the present time, this job is beingdone manually, and it takes a great deal of human effort to accomplishthe same, and the present invention can do the work of approximately 12men per day tying by hand. The main frame 38 may be constructed of asuitable material such as square tubing. The engine 27 may be an 8-horsepower gasoline engine, and the hydraulic pump 28 can be mounted in areservoir. The numeral 11 indicates a hydraulic motor of conventionalconstruction, and the hand actuated hydraulic valve 92 is provided forforward or reverse direction of travel of the machine. The torquelimiting sprocket 87 serves to protect the thread needles 14 and 15 ifthey collide with a stake 63. The clutch 84 is a single revolutionclutch for cycling the needles. The brake band 85 has constant tensionto stop the needles smoothly when the clutch 84 is disengaged. Thesolenoid 66 serves to actuate the clutch 84. The bevel gears 60 and 59are arranged so that the top gear shaft 61 passes through the bottomgear 59, and this construction causes the needle carriers or arms 71 and72 to rotate in opposite directions relative to each other. The clutchcam stop 90 is arranged so that the solenoid 66 selectively pulls thelever 96 and actuates the clutch. As the clutch 84 rotates onerevolution, the lever 96 strikes a cam or dog 90 on the clutch 84 tostop the same.

With further reference to the stake feeler 76, as the machine approachesa stake, the feeler 76 is forced to the rear and operates the microswitch 97. The micro switch, when closed, actuates the solenoid 66. Themounting bracket 98 is adjustable up and down for stakes of differentheight, and is also adjustable back and forth for different widths ofrows.

A string tensioner 12 is arranged below each string box 69, and thespring 10 is adjustable to control the tension of the string 65.

The needles l4 and 15 are adjustable for the height of string on thestake, and these needles l4 and 15 make a complete revolution aroundeach stake as the machine reaches each stake, as illustrated in FIG. 4of the drawings. The numeral 62 indicates the stake guides. There isalso provided the string containers or boxes 69 for carrying extra ballsof twine. Levers are provided for maintaining tension on the string 65.

It will be seen, therefore, that with the parts arranged as shown in thedrawings, the machine 20 is adapted to travel at a suitable speed, suchas about 1 mile per hour down a row. As a stake 63 is approached, thestake feeler 76 is forced to the rear and closes the points in the microswitch 97. This permits electric current to actuate the solenoid 66. Thesolenoid 66 pulls the cam stop lever 96 down and actuates the singlerevolution clutch 84, which causes the needles l4 and 15 to pass just infront of a stake so as to assure that the crop will not be damaged. Asthe machine moves forward, the needles 14 and 15 complete theirrevolution and just pass the stake in the rear, and this is illustratedschematically in FIG. 4.

Stop lever 96 strikes the cam 90 at the end of one revolution and stopsthe needles l4 and 15 from rotating and the machine is now ready for thenext stake to come to the machine. It is to be noted that the firststring is tied to the stakes 63 when the crop is about one foot inheight. The string will sandwich the plants between them to make thecrops stand up. As the crop grows about another foot taller, it is tieda second time with the needles adjusted so as to catch the top of thecrop and stand it up straight again. A third string or other additionalstrings may be tied as required as the plants continue to grow.

Some of the important aspects or features of the pres ent invention areas follows: There is provided a means for sensing the stakes, no matterwhat the stake spacing is. Also the needles, by rotating opposite toeach other, can tie the string or wrap the string around the stake atthe same time and open back up to permit the string to be placed on theoutside of the crop. The stakes can have an irregular spacing and themachine will still work efficiently. The tension of the string can beadjusted or controlled as desired.

Another important aspect or feature of the present invention is thelever, such as the lever 12 for maintaining constant tension on thestring. There is a point in the rotating of the needles that the needlestravel faster to the rear of the machine and the string will go slack.This lever 12 is spring loaded as at 10, and is under tension while thestring is being dispensed. Thus, as the slack starts to come in thestring, the lever is pulled by the spring to take up the slack.

When the end of the row is reached, the machine is stopped. The stringis then cut with a knife and tied to the stake, and the ends at theneedles are tied together.

the operator from tying the string at the start of each row.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishesthe objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has beendisclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that thespecific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is notto be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms ormodifications of the invention which should also be construed to comewithin the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A crop tying machine comprising a frame including horizontallydisposed beams, an engine mounted on said beams, a hydraulic pump drivenby said engine, a hydraulic motor mounted on the frame and operativelyconnected to the pump, front and rear wheels for the frame, steeringmeans for the machine, means for driving a rear wheel to move themachine, a horizontally disposed driven shaft supported by said frame, adrive shaft operated by said hydraulic motor, means including said driveand driven shafts together, a clutch and brake unit and cam stopconnected to said driven shaft, a bevel gear connected to said drivenshaft, a solenoid supported by said frame, a lever actuated by saidsolenoid for coaction with the cam stop on the driven shaft, avertically disposed shaft member having upper and lower bevel gearmembers associated therewith for meshing with the bevel gear on thedriven shaft, a pair of vertically disposed rotary carrier armssupported by said frame, cranks connecting said vertically disposedshaft member and said lower bevel gear member to a respective one ofsaid arms, vertically disposed needles carried by said arms, containerson said frame for holding string, spring biased string tensionersadjacent said containers, an adjustable support assembly includingvertically disposed members having pairs of guide elements connectedthereto, a pivotally mounted stake feeler element adjacent each pair ofguide elements, a micro switch actuated by the stake feeler element, andsaid micro switch seving to selectively actuate the solenoid.

2. ln combination with a self-propelled machine for tying cropscomprising a frame including horizontally disposed beams, an enginemounted on said beams, a hydraulic pump driven by said engine, ahydraulic motor mounted on the frame and operatively connected to thepump, front and rear wheels for the frame, steering means for themachine, means for driving a rear wheel to move the machine, ahorizontally disposed shaft supported by said frame, a drive shaftoperated by said hydraulic motor means operatively connecting said driveand driven shafts together, a clutch and brake unit and cam stopconnected to said driven shaft, a bevel gear connection to said drivenshaft, a solenoid supported by said frame, a lever actuated by saidsolenoid for coaction with the cam stop on the driven shaft, avertically disposed shaft member having upper and lower bevel gearmembers associated therewith for meshing with the bevel gear on thedriven shaft, a pair of vertically disposed rotary carrier armssupported by said frame, cranks connecting said vertically disposedshaft member and said lower bevel gear member to said creaks, verticallydisposed needles carried by said arms, containers on said frame forholding strings; spring biased tensioners adjacent said containers, anadjustable support assembly including vertically disposed members havingpairs of guide elements connected thereto, a pivotally mounted stakefeeler element adjacent each pair of guide elements, a micro switchactuated by the stake feeler element, and said micro switch serving toselectively actuate the solenoid.

3. A crop tying machine comprising a mobile frame, string supply meansmounted on said frame, a pair of laterally disposed rotatable needlemembers mounted on said frame stake, guide elements mounted on saidframe in advance of said needle members and being adapted for receivingstakes therebetween as said frame moves forwardly, stake feeler meansmounted on said frame and so located with respect to said guide elementsthat it isadapted to sense the presence of a stake passing therebetween,and means operatively connected between said feeler means and saidneedle member, for rotating said needle members following the sensing ofa stake by said feeler means, whereby string carried by said needlemembers is looped about said stake, drawing crop limbs against saidstake.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said needle rotatingmeans comprises a micro switch actuated by said stake feeler means, asolenoid selectively energized by said micro switch, and means actuatedby said solenoid for controlling rotation of said needles.

1. A crop tying machine comprising a frame including horizontallydisposed beams, an engine mounted on said beams, a hydraulic pump drivenby said engine, a hydraulic motor mounted on the frame and operativelyconnected to the pump, front and rear wheels for the frame, steeringmeans for the machine, means for driving a rear wheel to move themachine, a horizontally disposed driven shaft supported by said frame, adrive shaft operated by said hydraulic motor, means including said driveand driven shafts together, a clutch and brake unit and cam stopconnected to said driven shaft, a bevel gear connected to said drivenshaft, a solenoid supported by said frame, a lever actuated by saidsolenoid for coaction with the cam stop on the driven shaft, avertically disposed shaft member having upper and lower bevel gearmembers associated therewith for meshing with the bevel gear on thedriven shaft, a pair of vertically disposed rotary carrier armssupported by said frame, cranks connecting said vertically disposedshaft member and said lower bevel gear member to a respective one ofsaid arms, vertically disposed needles carried by said arms, containerson said frame for holding string, spring biased string tensionersadjacent said containers, an adjustable support assembly includingvertically disposed members having pairs of guide elements connectedthereto, a pivotally mounted stake feeler element adjacent each pair ofguide elements, a micro switch actuated by the stake feeler element, andsaid micro switch seving to selectively actuate the solenoid.
 2. Incombination with a self-propelled machine for tying crops comprising aframe including horizontally disposed beams, an engine mounted on saidbeams, a hydraulic pump driven by said engine, a hydraulic motor mountedon the frame and operatively connected to the pump, front and rearwheels for the frame, steering mEans for the machine, means for drivinga rear wheel to move the machine, a horizontally disposed shaftsupported by said frame, a drive shaft operated by said hydraulic motormeans operatively connecting said drive and driven shafts together, aclutch and brake unit and cam stop connected to said driven shaft, abevel gear connection to said driven shaft, a solenoid supported by saidframe, a lever actuated by said solenoid for coaction with the cam stopon the driven shaft, a vertically disposed shaft member having upper andlower bevel gear members associated therewith for meshing with the bevelgear on the driven shaft, a pair of vertically disposed rotary carrierarms supported by said frame, cranks connecting said vertically disposedshaft member and said lower bevel gear member to said creaks, verticallydisposed needles carried by said arms, containers on said frame forholding strings; spring biased tensioners adjacent said containers, anadjustable support assembly including vertically disposed members havingpairs of guide elements connected thereto, a pivotally mounted stakefeeler element adjacent each pair of guide elements, a micro switchactuated by the stake feeler element, and said micro switch serving toselectively actuate the solenoid.
 3. A crop tying machine comprising amobile frame, string supply means mounted on said frame, a pair oflaterally disposed rotatable needle members mounted on said frame stake,guide elements mounted on said frame in advance of said needle membersand being adapted for receiving stakes therebetween as said frame movesforwardly, stake feeler means mounted on said frame and so located withrespect to said guide elements that it is adapted to sense the presenceof a stake passing therebetween, and means operatively connected betweensaid feeler means and said needle member, for rotating said needlemembers following the sensing of a stake by said feeler means, wherebystring carried by said needle members is looped about said stake,drawing crop limbs against said stake.
 4. The structure as defined inclaim 3, wherein said needle rotating means comprises a micro switchactuated by said stake feeler means, a solenoid selectively energized bysaid micro switch, and means actuated by said solenoid for controllingrotation of said needles.